Uruguay's star strikers couldn't deliver, but one of its center backs took care of picking up the slack.

Luis Suarez missed three great chances, and Edinson Cavani was repeatedly denied, but Jose Gimenez's 90th-minute header delivered a 1-0 win for Uruguay over Egypt at the World Cup in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Egypt made its first World Cup appearance since 1990 and is left still eyeing the first World Cup win in its nation's history. All eyes were on Mohamed Salah, who was proclaimed fit for the match less than three weeks after suffering a shoulder injury in the Champions League final with Liverpool. He didn't wind up coming off the bench, though, spending his 26th birthday as an inactive player.

After watching Russia thrash Saudi Arabia 5-0 in Thursday's opener, both sides were out to make statement to keep pace with the hosts.

The first warning shot came from Cavani in the eight minute, with the PSG striker lining up a low blast from 20 yards, only for Mohamed El-Shennawy to get down and make the clean diving save.

Egypt fired back three minutes later, with Mahmoud Hassan, who goes by Trezeguet, on the end of a sequence in which a few looped balls forward wound up with a 20-yard half volley that Fernando Muslera smothered by the near post.

Cavani had another golden chance lined up and earmarked for goal, only for a heroic header to put it out of play. Cavani volleyed to himself before ripping a left-footed chance from a left-sided angle that was put over the bar by Ali Gabr.

On the ensuing corner kick, Suarez missed an absolute sitter. The ball came through traffic to the far post, where an unmarked Suarez was waiting for it, but he hooked his point-blank chance into the side netting, letting Egypt off easy.

Suarez was denied less than a minute into the second half as Uruguay came out firing. Cavani chipped ahead for Suarez down the right channel, but El-Shennawy was equal to the task, blocking Suarez's powerful blast from close range with a kick save.

The second half continued to unfold in a cagey manner with few clear-cut chances until the 72nd minute. Egypt's Ahmed Fathi ripped a blast from distance, but Muslera was equal to it, making the key save.

On the ensuing sequence on the other end of the field, Suarez appeared to have another golden opportunity, until to take too many touches in close and allow El-Shennawy to come off his line and take the ball off his foot.